KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Andy Wiederhorn | President & CEO | FAT Brands

Andy Wiederhorn is President and Chief Executive Officer of FAT Brands Inc., a global franchising company that acquires, markets, and develops fast casual, quick service, casual dining, and polished casual dining concepts around the world. Andy made his first restaurant acquisition in 2003 with Fatburger when the brand had only 40 corporate and franchise owned stores. As he expanded Fatburger’s global footprint, he acquired Buffalo’s Cafe in 2011 and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses in 2017 before taking FAT Brands public on the NASDAQ. With the recent pandemic-era acquisitions of Johnny Rockets, Global Franchise Group and Twin Peaks, FAT Brands’ portfolio now features fifteen restaurant concepts with more than 2,100 locations worldwide.

Carl Howard | President & CEO | Fazoli’s

As a talented and seasoned industry executive, Carl Howard has led multiple brands through successful turnarounds – most recently, Fazoli’s. During his 13-year tenure as Chief Executive Officer of America’s largest premium Italian QSR chain, he launched Fazoli’s into the future with the systematic implementation of a full brand revamp. His areas of focus have included culinary innovation, menu re-engineering, brand reimagination and the expansion of off-premise sales through catering programs, third-party delivery, online ordering and innovative technology. Carl also led an aggressive franchise development initiative to grow the brand in expanded and pioneer markets. He invigorated Fazoli’s with game changing solutions that have fundamentally impacted sales and the guest experience.